The protocol must be purely objective and exact. All appearances should be so carefully described that from the protocol itself a diagnosis may be formulated. Conclusions and diagnoses have no place in the protocol until the final summing up. It is better to describe the appearance of organs than to class them as “normal” or “negative,” “nothing notable,” etc. The only excuse for the employment of such phrases is a lack of time for the dictation of a proper protocol, but the scientific value of the autopsy is thereby impaired. As the complete description of the normal appearances would require too much time and lessen that available for the pathologic examination, the prosector should describe briefly the chief characteristics of the normal organ, any variation in any one of these characteristics being sufficient evidence that the organ had suffered pathologic change. The description of the normal organ, however, usually offers the greatest difficulty to the beginner, and so much time may be spent upon this that the pathologic changes are slighted. However, the relatively small number of points constituting the criterion for the normal organ may be learned by experience and by the study of autopsy-protocols made by experts. The latter study is also necessary for the acquisition of the extensive protocol terminology that has been developed. A knowledge of this terminology lightens greatly the difficulties of the protocol; but its misuse leads to confusion and incorrect interpretations. It is not a good plan to write up the protocol after the autopsy has been finished. It should be dictated during the progress of the autopsy. Only in this way can an accurate and purely objective description be obtained. The use of simple, terse English and the proper employment of autopsy terminology are also chief factors in the production of a good protocol. The importance of following a definitely-outlined routine of procedure is very evident in the case of protocol-making. The general order of the autopsy should be followed strictly in the protocol; and all deviations from the usual method noted and described. Aside from this general order, each organ or part as it is examined should be systematically described according to the following scheme: 1. =Location and relation to other parts.= 2. =Size and weight.= 3. =Shape. (Contour, lobes, edges, borders, character of surface, etc.)= 4. =Color.= 5. =Consistence.= 6. =Odor.= 7. =Cut surface.= 8. =Blood-content.= 9. =Histologic features in detail. (Capsule, surface, parenchyma, stroma, vessels, etc.)= 10. =General and localized pathologic conditions.= For the _hollow viscera_ and _body-cavities_ the following points should be systematically noted in addition: